When people talk about getting away, Many people don’t realize there’s a real difference between a traveler and a vacationer.

Both involve leaving home for a while, packing a suitcase, and heading somewhere new. But the mindset behind those trips can be surprisingly different.

For some people, getting away means a vacation—a chance to escape everyday routines, relax by the pool, sleep in, and spend several carefree days in one beautiful place.

For others, it means travel—the excitement of exploring unfamiliar towns, discovering scenic landscapes, learning local history, and experiencing places they’ve never seen before.

My husband and I fall firmly into the second category. We love the adventure of discovering somewhere new.

Over time, though, I’ve realized that many of our friends prefer something quite different. They vacation.

And that simple difference often shapes how we each imagine the perfect getaway.

Traveler vs Vacationer: Quick Guide
Not sure whether you’re more of a traveler or a vacationer? Here’s a simple way to think about the difference:
Travelers are driven by curiosity. They enjoy exploring new places, discovering scenic drives, visiting small towns, and learning about the culture and history of a destination.
Vacationers are looking for rest. They prefer relaxing in one place—often returning to a favorite destination where they can unplug and recharge.
Most people are a little bit of both, but many of us naturally lean toward one style of travel.
The real question is:
Do you feel more excited about relaxing somewhere familiar… or discovering somewhere new?

Travel through the lens of photography

Over the years, I’ve also come to see travel through the lens of photography. What began as simple snapshots on early trips gradually grew into a deeper passion for capturing the landscapes, wildlife, and quiet moments we discover along the way. Photography has a way of slowing you down when you travel—it encourages you to notice the light on a mountain ridge, the stillness of a lake at sunrise, or the way a small town comes alive in the early morning hours. Many of the places we explore now are shaped not only by curiosity, but also by the desire to experience and photograph the natural beauty we encounter along the road.

What’s the Difference Between Vacationing and Traveling?

At first glance, vacationing and traveling might seem like the same thing. After all, both involve leaving home and spending time somewhere new.

But the mindset behind the trip can be very different.

Vacationing: Rest and Escape

A vacation is often about rest and relaxation.

It’s a chance to step away from work, responsibilities, and daily routines. Vacationers typically choose one destination and settle in for several days or even a week.

They might spend time on the beach, relax by the pool, enjoy great meals, and let the days unfold slowly. The goal is to recharge and return home refreshed.

Traveling: Curiosity and Discovery

Traveling, on the other hand, is fueled by curiosity.

Travelers want to explore. They enjoy discovering small towns, learning about local history, tasting regional food, and seeing landscapes they’ve never experienced before.

Instead of staying in one place, traveling often involves moving around—taking scenic drives, wandering through unfamiliar places, and seeing what’s waiting around the next bend in the road. Travelers often find their best moments when they step away from the main tourist paths — something I talk about more in how I search for off-the-beaten-path destinations across the country.

Neither way is right or wrong. They’re simply two different ways of experiencing the world.

Traveler vs. Vacationer: A Quick Comparison

Traveler	Vacationer
Motivated by curiosity and discovery	Focused on rest and relaxation
Often visits multiple destinations	Usually stays in one place
Loves scenic drives and exploration	Prefers familiar destinations
Interested in local culture and history	Enjoys comfort and routine
Finds excitement in the journey	Finds joy in slowing down

Can You Be Both?

Of course, most people aren’t completely one or the other.

Many of us are a little bit of both a traveler and a vacationer.

Sometimes we need a peaceful getaway where the goal is simply to rest and recharge. Other times we feel drawn toward the excitement of exploring somewhere new.

But in my experience, most people tend to lean toward one style more than the other.

Some people love returning to the same destination every year because it feels familiar and relaxing.

Others feel energized by discovering new places, exploring scenic drives, and seeing landscapes they’ve never experienced before.

Once you recognize which one you lean toward, it suddenly makes sense why people plan trips in such different ways.

How I Realized I Was a Traveler

My husband and I are, without a doubt, travelers.

While I enjoy the ocean and the soothing sound of waves rolling onto the shore, after about an hour on the beach I’m bored out of my mind—and honestly, so is he.

Back in the early 2000s, I traveled quite a bit for work. Whenever possible, we would add a few extra vacation days so my husband could join me and we could explore wherever my job had taken us.

One of our first trips like that was to Portland. While we were there, we drove out to Mount Hood and stopped at beautiful Trillium Lake.

Mount Hood at Trillium Lake with reflections of the mountain in the lake. The mountain has snow capped peaks and lake is surrounded with evergreen trees — Mount Hood Oregon

During that trip we met a couple who told us about their tradition of traveling somewhere new every fall. They were working their way through the scenic routes in the book The Most Scenic Drives in America, trying to experience as many drives as possible across all fifty states.

They had a system—they always traveled in September after schools were back in session so the crowds were smaller and the roads were quieter.

That idea stuck with us.

Scenic drives have since become some of our favorite ways to explore, and many of our travels now revolve around discovering beautiful back roads and landscapes.

View some scenic drives

How Travel Led Me to Photography

At the time, I wasn’t a photographer. I only had a small point-and-shoot camera, but I took a few photos on that trip that I absolutely loved.

When we got home, I framed them and hung them in our house.

Over time, we realized how much we loved those kinds of experiences—the feeling of discovering somewhere new together. Photography has become my way of capturing the feeling of those places — something I talk more about in my Mastering Storytelling on the Road series.

We love seeing places we’ve never been, meeting people along the way, and learning about the history and culture of an area.

Most of our trips revolve around experiencing the natural beauty of our country. There is so much incredible landscape out there if you simply take the time to look for it.

Surrounded by Nature

Being surrounded by nature has a way of slowing you down, clearing your mind, and reminding you how vast and beautiful the world really is.

I wanted photos that reflected the feeling of standing there — the quiet of a mountain lake, the glow of sunset across an open landscape, or the sense of wonder that comes from seeing a place for the first time. Over time, I began to realize that photography isn’t just about documenting a place, but about telling the story of the journey. Eventually, that passion led me to create Back Roads Lens, where I share many of the places we’ve discovered along the way. Scenic drives have since become some of our favorite ways to explore, and many of our travels now revolve around discovering beautiful back roads and byways across America.

If you enjoy scenic drives, hidden landscapes, and travel stories from the road, you can also follow along through the Back Roads Lens newsletter, where I share new places we discover and photography moments from our travels.

A Simple Question That Says a Lot About How You Travel

Here’s an easy way to tell which travel style you lean toward.

Imagine you have a week off and a chance to go somewhere beautiful.

Do you picture yourself settling into one peaceful location—sleeping in, enjoying long meals, and relaxing by the water?

Or do you imagine waking up early for sunrise, driving scenic back roads, stopping at overlooks, exploring small towns, and discovering places you’ve never seen before?

Neither answer is better than the other.

But for many people, the answer comes instantly—and that answer often reveals whether you’re more of a traveler or a vacationer.

How to Tell Which One You Are

Signs You’re a Traveler

If you’re a traveler, you probably enjoy planning trips that involve places to explore.

You might spend time researching scenic drives, national parks, historic towns, or hidden viewpoints. Your camera may always be nearby because you want to capture the landscapes, wildlife, or moments that make a place unique.

For travelers, the excitement comes from discovery. Some of our favorite trips have happened when the road itself became the destination.

Signs You’re a Vacationer

If you’re a vacationer, your ideal getaway might look a little different.

You may enjoy returning to a favorite beach, a relaxing resort, or a quiet cabin where the days move slowly and everything feels familiar.

For vacationers, the goal is simple: rest, relaxation, and a break from everyday life.

Both approaches can create wonderful memories.

Why I’ll Always Choose Traveling

For us, traveling has never just been about going somewhere—it’s about experiencing the world in a deeper way.

Each trip gives us the chance to stand in places that remind us how beautiful and vast this world really is. It might be a quiet mountain lake, a winding scenic drive, or a breathtaking landscape that stops you in your tracks.

Those moments have shaped not only the way we travel, but also the way I see the world through my camera.

Over time, photography became a natural extension of our travels — a way to slow down, notice the details, and capture the feeling of a place before moving on to the next adventure. There will always be more places to discover, more stories to learn, and more beauty waiting around the next bend in the road.

And for us, that sense of curiosity and discovery is exactly why we’ll always choose traveling.

So the next time you start planning a trip, ask yourself:

Are you a vacationer, or are you a traveler?

Traveling has shaped the way I see the world — and photography has become the way I share those moments through Back Roads Lens.

Sunset over Monument Valley transforms The Mittens into glowing silhouettes — a timeless symbol of the American Southwest. regional back roads and byways — Sunset over Monument Valley transforms The Mittens into glowing silhouettes — a timeless symbol of the American Southwest.

Stay Inspired for the Next Journey

If you enjoy discovering scenic drives, hidden landscapes, and quiet moments in nature, I’d love to share more of those adventures with you.

Subscribe to the Back Roads Lens newsletter and you’ll receive:

• stories from the road
• new travel guides and scenic drives
• photography inspiration from the places we explore

It’s a simple way to follow along as we continue discovering beautiful places across America — one back road at a time.

👉 Join the Back Roads Lens community here:

If You’re a Traveler, You Might Enjoy These Adventures

If you find yourself leaning toward the traveler side of the spectrum — the kind of person who loves discovering new landscapes, scenic drives, and hidden places — these stories from Back Roads Lens might inspire your next journey. Over time we learned that some of the best discoveries happen when you leave the main highways and explore off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Scenic Drives & Road Trips

Wild Places & National Parks

Moments in Nature

Finding the Wild Close to Home: Photographing Bald Eagles Near My Backyard
Season of Eaglets
When the North Comes South: Snowy Owls in Upstate New York

Travel has a way of leading us to places we never expected to find. Sometimes it’s a famous landscape, and sometimes it’s a quiet moment along a back road that stays with us long after the trip is over.

Explore More on Back Roads Lens

If you enjoy discovering scenic drives, hidden landscapes, and unforgettable places, you might also enjoy these guides:

How I Find Off the Beaten Path Destinations in the USA
• Regional Back Roads and Byways Across America
• National and State Park Drives: Where the Road Becomes the Destination
• Driving the Kancamagus Highway: Summer Miles Through the White Mountains

At Back Roads Lens, I share the scenic drives, wild landscapes, and quiet moments that make traveling such an unforgettable experience.